Got into a spat with a buddy over torque specs at a BBQ last weekend

At a family BBQ last weekend, my buddy and I got into it over diesel engine torque. He insists on following factory specs to the letter, but I've always gone by the feel of the wrench... you know? We were so focused on arguing that we let the burgers char to a crisp. Some guys say his way avoids come-backs, others say my method gets it done right. What's your take?

3 comments

3 Comments

matthewc978h ago

Okay, but here's a real scenario: what if you're torquing head bolts on a diesel? Factory specs MATTER there because uneven pressure can warp the block. I've seen guys who go by feel blow a head gasket in a month. But for stuff like bracket bolts, sure, crank it till it feels right. Where do you draw the line between critical and non-critical parts?

faithshah6h ago

Specs for pressure parts, feel for the rest. Head bolts and anything sealing or under load need a torque wrench. Brackets and covers are usually fine by hand. Strip one bolt and you'll never skip specs again.

linda_jenkins37h ago

Used to guess on all bolts, but seeing a blown head gasket taught me to follow specs for critical parts.